Grand mooneye fishing

[AaronKrick]

Has anyone fished for mooneye on the grand or any other rivers in S Ontario? If you have any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Kit]

Ive never caught mooneye anywhere on the grand. Ive fished the base of Fergus all the way down to Brantford if you're gonna catch them they will probably be super close to Erie, if not at the mouth.

 

[Kit]

Here this will give you an idea..

https://www.grandriver.ca/fishing/FishingTheGrand.pdf

 

[RobH]

There are some mooneye through the lower middle sector but the majority are found from Caledonia down through York and below. During just about any mid season hatch they will be up eating heavily on the surface and they are dumber than cutthroats when it come to taking dries. You will also find a mixture of very 'trouty' smallmouth through that sector and they are the real treasures down there.

 

[AaronKrick]

Brantford and below is my home water!

 

[Kit]

Id hit the dam in Caledonia.

 

[AaronKrick]

Id hit the dam in Caledonia.

Yep thats what i was thinking

 

[Kit]

do it before the crazy melt happens. And waters rise and go stupid. Would love to see pictures.

 

[93DelSol]

mooneye are all through Brantford, anywhere.

 

[W_boughner]

I don't think I've ever caught a moon eye how big do they get ?? Are ther edible or a bait fish ??

 

[Kit]

they can get 10-12" as for eating not sure what they would taste like.

 

[BowSlayer]

they can get 10-12" as for eating not sure what they would taste like.

they can get bigger than that, they taste alright but more of a fish to smoke than to fry.

 

[AaronKrick]

do it before the crazy melt happens. And waters rise and go stupid. Would love to see pictures.

I dont think they run till june or so, correct me if im wrong

 

[chinooky]

mooneye and goldeye are available in the prairie provinces as cold smoked fish. They are pretty good when served that way. Otherwise, kind of mushy because the meat is soft and a bit oily.

 

[AaronKrick]

I have never eaten a fish

 

[BowSlayer]

I have never eaten a fish

you missin' out man :razz:

 

[AaronKrick]

you missin' out man :razz:

Fish for the future!

 

[Kit]

Dude you have never eaten game fish? Thats crazy.

 

[Jacklake]

Gee, and I thought we weren't supposed to name rivers and locations. I guess it's OK if we don't discuss trout and salmon and headwaters.

Anyway - mooneye are about 12" as mentioned, and like to hit topwater flies and rise best after about 6:00 when the sun gets a bit lower. And since it is dry fly fishing, there have to be flies hatching (this means June) - white imitations about size 14 work best. As well, they like a twitched fly, not always a dead drift.
In the water below Caledonia they dissappear suddently when the big catfish move in at dark.
As RobH mentioned - that water is good for smallies, especially from 3:00 PM to about 6:00. Take a break for about 1/2 and hour and then fish mooneye from 6:30 PM to 9:30.

 

[Kit]

Its mooneye who cares haha.